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Webcast Outline Background on the quality initiative State and national launch activities for public reporting of quality data How to leverage public reporting for your hospital’s benefit Messages and positioning your hospital’s quality improvement efforts The future of the Hospital Quality Initiative

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Background on the Hospital Quality Initiative

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Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) In Washington State: Qualis Health Contracts with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Works with health care providers to improve the quality of care

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The Hospital Quality Initiative Voluntary program for measuring hospital quality Provides information to improve hospital quality and to help consumers make more informed decisions

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Critical Access Hospitals Washington has many (37) No payment benefit Some difficulty collecting data Over 400 signed up nationwide CMS to address appropriate quality measures of care Encouraged to sign up, even if not ready to submit data

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Understand Your Data Review your performance data –Compare with national averages Think about how to interpret the data Consider how will the public or referral sources will interpret the data and what you can tell them Research whether you have seen improvement since you started gathering data

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Local Activities Media release for earned media Profiles of providers’ quality improvement successes Press conference, possibly at Harborview Hospitals in other areas can work together to do a joint press conference Outreach materials for consumers

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If Your Data Are Good We are pleased with our performance. –Explain why you think your measures are good. These findings reflect our dedication to the care and comfort of our patients. These data represent a snapshot in time; quality is a priority that must constantly be monitored.

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If Your Data Are Mixed We are pleased with our positive performance. We will examine those areas where there are opportunities for improvement. We have already seen improvement in xxxx. –Describe what you are doing to improve. –If you have new data, share it.

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If Your Data Are Poor We are dedicated to the care and comfort of our patients and these data help us focus our efforts on areas to improve. We are taking all necessary action to ensure quality of care at our facility. We have already seen improvement in xxxx. –Describe what you are doing to improve. –If you have new data, share it.

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Data Limitations We are just at the beginning of providing data on hospital quality Data are for just six months’ worth of patients on a relatively small set of measures Data should not be over- interpreted

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Positive Positioning Develop key messages and talking points that highlight your hospital’s efforts to improve quality –In what QI efforts has your hospital participated? –What other QI activities are under way? –How have these efforts benefited your patients? –What projects have you done with Qualis Health? Frame your quality improvement efforts so that patients will relate to them

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Positive Positioning Create a hospital quality profile –Number of patients, number of staff, awards, certification, special programs Include performance data in a success story about your hospital’s quality improvements –Patient stories and interviews can bring the data to life Find patients who can testify to your excellent care

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Media Become familiar with Hospital Compare –Review performance data during preview period and on morning of national launch Anticipate questions that may be uncomfortable Meet with local media in advance –Give them background –Share your scores –Do this with competitors!

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What Not To Do CMS has discouraged marketing messages such as “rated #1 by Medicare” WSHA members agree not to use data for competitive marketing Be careful about promoting scores –New data every quarter –Data can shift significantly

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The Future of Hospital Compare and Further Resources

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Expansions of the Initiative –New voluntarily reported measures for the three initial conditions (heart attack, heart failure, and pneumonia) in early 2005 –First-time voluntarily reported measures on prevention of surgical infections may be posted publicly in mid to late 2005 –Information about patients’ perspectives on their care may be added in late 2005

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Preview Hospital Compare CMS web conference March 10 from 10-11:30 a.m. (PST) Details on plans for the national rollout of the site Live question and answer session /HQIDescription.pdf /HQIDescription.pdf